Talking to your teen about safe driving

NewsUSA

Monday

Mar 31, 2014 at 12:01 AMMar 31, 2014 at 2:42 PM

When you hand car keys to your teenager for the first time, your heart races as you think of what could happen. The fact is that car accidents are the number-one cause of death among teens in the U.S., so it's important to communicate the gravity of this newfound responsibility.

That's why Trico Products (www.tricoproducts.com) has made a commitment to make teen driving safer and encourage parents to have a serious, sit-down conversation with their children before allowing them to get behind the wheel.

To help make that conversation a little easier, Trico offers these helpful talking points:

Seatbelt -- Teens buckle up far less frequently than adults, so be sure to reiterate that fastening your seatbelt should be the very first thing you do before keys are even in the ignition. Texting -- Cell phones, the radio and other passengers are all major distractions. Every second a teen takes their eyes of the road could be an opportunity for a terrible accident. Cite examples of recent car accidents from texting while driving to further establish this danger. Drinking and driving -- It's important to stress that no one under the age of 21 should be drinking. But, let them know to make the right decision and have a designated driver or call for a ride home. Defensive driving -- Teens need to be hyper-sensitive to all surroundings, since their brain is not fully developed. They must not only be aware of how they're driving but how others drive too so collisions are avoided. Penalties -- Talk about the fines associated with tickets, and let them know they will be responsible for any monetary repercussions and attending traffic court. Roadside emergencies and maintenance -- Go over what to do and whom to call in an emergency. Make certain they have roadside assistance and insurance information readily available. Also, teach them about basic maintenance to ensure they schedule regular oil changes, tire rotations and inspections and always check that they've changed the wiper blades.

Having that first conversation is only the start, so go over these points with them regularly to make sure they make good decisions. Visit tricoproducts.com for additional help on driver safety and regular car maintenance.

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